Stories

City officials in Plattsburgh are working to make the downtown center more appealing to tourists. One of the newest initiatives got a boost recently when the Sunrise Rotary announced it will sponsor a plan to create an Arts Walk in the center city. Last weekend the Plattsburgh Sunrise Rotary hosted the Mayor’s Cup Regatta, the largest sailing race on Lake Champlain. The group also supported a Landlubber Mural Project that brought nautical-themed drawings to buildings across downtown.

The Plattsburgh Sunrise Rotary Club recently acknowledged individuals for their service to the club and to the community at an annual awards dinner held on June 20, 2017,

Sunrise Rotarian Laurie Marvin was named the 2017 Paul Harris Fellow and Gil Duken was honored as the 2017 Community Paul Harris Fellow. The "Community" recognition is awarded every year to one person from outside the club who the committee feels has exemplified the Rotary tradition of "service above self".

Gil Duken was honored as the 2017 Community Paul Harris Fellow. The "Community" recognition is awarded every other year to one person from outside the club who the committee feels has exemplified the Rotary tradition of "service above self".

Outgoing President Joanne Dahlen closed the awards dinner program on June 20, 2017 by recognizing Tom Glasgow and Jerry Kelly as the “Rotarians of the Year” for their years of service to Sunrise Rotary and Rotary International.

Tom has been a member of Sunrise Rotary since 1997 and is a past President of the club. Jerry has been a member of the club since 1998. Both individuals have been distinguished as Paul Harris Fellows.

The 40th annual Mayor's Cup Festival and Regatta officially 'kicked-off' on Friday, July 2, 2017 with a press conference at City Hall. The Mayor's Cup Festival and Regatta is co-hosted by Sunrise Rotary and the City of Plattsburgh. The four-day festival features a myriad of activities for the whole family including live outdoor music, fireworks, boat parade of lights, fire truck pull and more!

We sold-out of the 2016 t-shirts last year so make sure you get yours soon. And, remember they make great gifts for out-of-town family and friends. The 2017 Mayor's Cup t-shirts cost $20 US (tax included) and are available in a men's crew neck and women's v-neck styles.

The "Spirit of Ianelli" Award was established in 2010 in honor of the late Mayor John Ianelli, former Mayor of the City of Plattsburgh and co-founder of the Mayor’s Cup Regatta in 1977. This honor is bestowed upon an individual – sailor or landlubber – who exemplifies the same “community does matter” spirit that inspired Mayor Ianelli 38 years ago, empowering our lake community to thrive, not only on race day, but every day.

In 2016, the Mayor's Cup Regatta & Festival Committee named Gordie Little the 2016 "Spirit of Ianelli" Award honoree. Sunrise Rotary’s Mayor’s Cup Co-Chair Joanne K. Dahlen said that selecting Gordie Little as this year’s honoree was an easy decision to make. “We only wish we had the opportunity to present Gordie the award in person and not posthumously,” said Joanne.

On June 3, 2017, in honor of National Trail Day, Sunrise Rotarians along with several other service organizations, volunteered to clean up some the local trail systems in and around the City. Plattsburgh's Mayor Read even came down to join the fun and to thank us for our service.

April has possibly been the best month of my exchange so far. The first week was my mother's visit to Japan, she stayed from the 1st to the 8th. I was beyond excited to see her for the first time after 7 months, and I was so happy that she could meet my host families and host Rotary club.

Together with each of my host families, we took day trips around the Kansai area; Nara, Kyoto, and Osaka, and we introduced her to some of our favorite Japanese foods. I was so excited to show her around my city, my school, and my favorite places in Osaka. I especially loved surprising her with how far I've come with my Japanese language skills, my ability to navigate the train and subway systems, and even my chopstick skills!

The following is a letter from Zoe Taber, our Youth Exchange student in Japan, sent just after the New Year's holiday...

明けましておめでとうございます (translates to: I wish you a Happy New Year),

Happy New Years from Japan! It has been a great start to 2017. As Japan's biggest holiday, New Year's greetings and celebrations have lasted through this whole month. I started 2017 with my host family on a trip to a small and rural island off the coast of Osaka.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Clinton County (CCEC) held its annual meeting on October 18, 2016 at the Adirondack Room at the Butcher Block in Plattsburgh. Two organizations, Mountain Lake PBS and Rotary Club of Plattsburgh Sunrise, were recognized as 'Friends of Extension'. Sunrise Rotary President Joanne Dahlen was on hand to receive the award at the dinner meeting.

The following is a monthly report from Zoe Taber, the Plattsburgh Sunrise Club Youth Exchange Student in Japan...

こにちわ、(translates to "Good Day" or maybe "Hello")

It's been two months now and it still feels like I just got here. At the same time, it feels like years ago that I said goodbye to my family and friends in New York and got on the plane — what strange feeling! This last month has been a very good one.

It is hard to believe it has already been a month since I've been here! These weeks have flown by and I am already starting to feel very at home. I am attending Osaka Sumiyoshi high school, and I am happy to say the students as well as the teachers are so incredibly friendly, never once have I had to sit alone, or to walk to a class by myself.

On an average school day I wake up at 6:00 and eat breakfast with my host family, I try to leave the house at 7:00 And begin my walk to the train station, I take the train to school for about 45 minutes (as I have had little experience with trains, this took some practice). School starts at 8:30 and goes until 4:30 most days.

Harsh winds and the threat of lightning did not prevent the 39th-Annual Mayor’s Cup Regatta from taking place Saturday on Lake Champlain, nor did it keep Plattsburgh’s Michael Parsons from capturing the coveted Mayor’s Cup trophy. Parsons and skipper Peter Hall of Montreal, Quebec, helped lead the crew of Obelix to a victory in the Racing division, finishing with a corrected time of two hours, eight minutes and 50 seconds.

Registration is now open for the 39th Annual Mayor's Cup Regatta. On July 9th an estimated 100 boats will participate in this premiere, international sailing competition on Lake Champlain, attracting racers from New England, Quebec, and New York. The Mayor’s Cup Regatta includes competitive races in three divisions -Cruising, Racing, and Multihull with prizes for all classes.

Sailors should go to www.mayorscup.com to register for the Regatta and be a part of the most celebrated event on Lake Champlain. Register today!

The Mayor's Cup Regatta & Festival Committee is pleased to announce that Gordie Little has been named the 2016 "Spirit of Ianelli" Award honoree.

The "Spirit of Ianelli" Award was established in 2010 in honor of the late Mayor John Ianelli, former Mayor of the City of Plattsburgh and co-founder of the Mayor’s Cup Regatta in 1977. This honor is bestowed upon an individual – sailor or landlubber – who exemplifies the same “community does matter” spirit that inspired Mayor Ianelli 38 years ago, empowering our lake community to thrive, not only on race day, but every day.

The 39th Annual Mayor’s Cup Regatta & Festival will honor the 2016 recipient of the “Spirit of Ianelli” Award on Saturday, July 9, 2016, and the Mayor's Cup Regatta & Festival Committee is currently seeking nominations from the community for this prestigious award.

What is the “Spirit of Ianelli” Award?
The "Spirit of Ianelli" Award was established in 2010 in honor of the late Mayor John Ianelli, former Mayor of the City of Plattsburgh and co-founder of the Mayor’s Cup Regatta in 1977. This honor is bestowed upon one individual – sailor or landlubber – who exemplifies the same “community does matter” spirit that inspired Mayor Ianelli 39 years ago, empowering our lake community to thrive, not only on race day, but every day.

Korea is playing host to Rotary's largest event of the year, its annual convention. More than 42,000 Rotary members from over 100 countries will come together this month to celebrate service, exchange ideas, and relax among friends at unforgettable concerts and social events. The convention runs from 28 May to 1 June. Attendees from District 7040 include District Governor Claude LaLiberté and Ginette; District Governor-Elect Nabil Oudeh and Gayle; District Rotaract Representative Dârini Vedarattiname; Cynthia Surette of Napanee and Jean Bégin of West Ottawa. During the convention Dârini will be facilitating one of the sessions.

An enthusiastic crew of international chefs set out a sumptuous four course dinner at the home of PJ Whitbeck in Plattsburgh on Saturday, May 7. The chefs included three Youth Exchange Rebounds, two Inbounds, one Outbound and two Rotarians. The international meal for eight was the grand prize of a Youth Exchange fundraiser raffle, won by Plattsburgh Sunrise member PJ Whitbeck for his family and guests. Funds go to help defray the cost of the Youth Exchange program.

Youth Exchange students from the area love to share their home cultures with dishes from their home countries which included food from Japan, Spain, Slovakia, Denmark, Turkey, Switzerland and Venezuela.

Guests at the event also learned how to dance the salsa and had their Turkish coffee grounds read by a Gypsy.

Youth Exchange students create International Dinner for Rotarians and guests

Six months over. Six months rich with a lifetime of new experiences, six months wearing all of the inconsolable pain and unimaginable joy that I alone may have have been able to carry. Half of a year in a foreign land, the adventure of a lifetime seemingly contained within the time between the rising and falling of the moon. No matter how hard I try, I can't shake the fear that my carefully executed dream will end when I wake up.

The Sunrise Rotary Club of Plattsburgh has an ongoing financial commitment to the ShelterBox organization to provide aid to victims of disasters wherever they happen.

ShelterBox delivers emergency shelter and other lifesaving supplies to help families begin to rebuild their lives after losing their homes and possessions following a natural disaster or humanitarian crisis.

Each ShelterBox is custom-packed depending on the needs of those affected by the disaster but often contains a family tent, water filter, blankets, cooking and eating utensils, tools, children’s activity pack, mosquito net and other items.

In November 2015 the Plattsburgh Sunrise Rotary Club embarked on a fundraiser for ShelterBox that has benefits that reach as far as the remote West Lunga Forest, an African miombo woodland forest preserve in the northwest region of Zambia. But the benefits won't only be felt in Africa, they will also fund another ShelterBox that will eventually be shipped to a disaster zone somewhere in the world to save a family coping with the loss of their home.

Club members will sell bottles of African Bronze Honey harvested by farmers in that region of Zambia. A portion of the cost of each bottle is set aside to train and equip more Zambians in how to harvest honey — supporting entrepreneurship and beekeeping in Africa.

The Plattsburgh Sunrise Rotary Club dedicated three years of fundraising efforts through its Mayor's Club Regatta celebration to create a legacy community project — a pavilion constructed at Wilcox Dock Park on Lake Champlain, Cumberland Avenue in the City of Plattsburgh. This project was dedicated July 12, 2012.

The facility, which sits between Wilcox Dock and the City of Plattsburgh Healthy Lungs Trail, includes several picnic tables and offers scenic views of Lake Champlain.

Plattsburgh Sunrise is proud of its support of the Max Moore Memorial Tree House.
At the ribbon cutting ceremony Ashley Cousens thanked Sunrise for their significant monetary contribution and thanked Kathy Duley and Joanne Dahlen in particular for their continued involvement as volunteers.
Kathy Duley represented Sunrise Rotary at the groundbreaking ceremony earlier in the year and held the 'ribbon' which was really a mural hand painted by children at the event this past Saturday.
Also on hand from Sunrise Rotary were Victoria Duley, Tom LaBombard, and Kjell Dahlen.

Plattsburgh Sunrise Club recognized for its support of Max Moore Memorial Tree House

The Max Moore Memorial Tree House, built along the Saranac River Trail near the Plattsburgh Police Department headquarters, is a universally accessible tree house, thanks to a special ramp that helps anyone, even those with mobility issues,

The tree house is named after local pediatrician Dr. Heidi Moore’s late son Max, who utilized a wheelchair and would have loved to be able to play in a tree house if he had the chance. People of all ages and abilities will enjoy this unique facility along the scenic Saranac River. The Max Moore Memorial tree house adds value to our community by giving everyone a safe place to play, fish, or simply relax and enjoy the view.

Zach Hirsch came to NCPR in September 2013, and opened The Plattsburgh news bureau the following year.

Before joining the team, Zach hosted a community radio show in Burlington, VT; freelanced for an NPR station in New York City; and attended the Transom Story Workshop, a radio training program with Atlantic Public Media in Woods Hole, MA. During the two-month workshop, he reported on the psychological aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing. His profile of two survivors was at the center of an hour-long discussion on WCAI's The Point.

Zach's work has also aired on NPR's All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, Public Radio Remix, the HowSound podcast, WFUV, and New Hampshire Public Radio. He has a degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Vermont.

Farewell, it means goodbye, describes a departure…..This is my last day as President of the Rotary Club of Plattsburgh Sunrise and luckily I do not have to say farewell. I am blessed to be able to continue to work with a club full of wonderful, committed, intelligent and sometimes outrageous people. What other group of people are so lively at 7:30 a.m.?

I will admit that this has been my favorite year so far in Rotary because I was able to interact with everyone in many different capacities. Every Tuesday started off with the Tom and Gerry show and then we enjoyed each other and learned from great speakers and visitors. We worked and played together on projects and activities from Winter Carnival to Literacy Challenge to Mayor’s Cup and so on.

When I first joined Rotary, I really didn’t understand its true meaning. Today I have a better understanding of its mission of service and fellowship, but I know I have so much more to learn. I look forward to being part of the club for years to come and carrying out its mission:

The mission of the Rotary Club of Plattsburgh Sunriseis to make a positive impact in

the lives of our members, and within our communities, by providing opportunities

for service and leadership at the local and international levels. We achieve this

through a committed, diverse and knowledgeable membership made stronger

Bill Smith was a long time member and past President of Sunrise Rotary, and became an Honorary Member when he retired to South Carolina. Bill passed away last month and Marty Mannix was kind enough to share with our membership the eulogy for Bill that was written and delivered by Bill's son Mark on February 15, 2015.

Rotary ski day at Whiteface on Wed. Feb 4: Meet @ 9 AM at the '10th Mt. Division Wall" (in the cafeteria to the right of the fireplace). Lunch at mid-station at noon (probably downstairs). Meet Whiteface management in the Cloudspin lounge at 3:30 for an update on Mt. Operations. If you arrive late, you can call Steve Bailey's cell phone at 728-1347.

Noon Club has organized a ski night/ pot luck social to be held at Beartown on the night of Friday February 13 from 7:00 - 9:00 PM. You don't have to ski, you can just come to socialize.

Would you like to donate items to the only orphanage in central Jamaica that accepts babies?

New Hope Children's Home is a non-profit organization and has been an independent licensed children's home for twenty years. Financial support is provided by donations from individuals along with a subvention from the government.

The Rotary Youth Leadership Summit and Awards Ceremony will take place June 26 -28, 2015 at Paul Smith's College and the Wild Center in Tupper Lake, NY. RYLA offers 15-17 year old students the opportunity to gain insight on the following life skills: leadership basics, business ethics, communication, problem solving, decision making, personal strengths evaluation and community citizenship. Interested students should contact Kerry Taylor.

On Saturday, November 8th, brave souls will take a dip or a slow crawl into the chilly waters of Lake Champlain at City Beach in Plattsburgh, NY. What is a Polar Plunge? A wild, crazy and FUN event to raise awareness and funds for the dedicated athletes of Special Olympics New York!

New this year, Mayor James Calnon of the City of Plattsburgh and Mayor Miro Weinberger of the City of Burlington, VT will “settle up” on their friendly wager made during the 37th Annual Mayor’s Cup Regatta. The challenge of Mayors was the revival of an old tradition. Mayor Calnon's NY boat, Odinn, narrowly beat Mayor Weinberger's VT boat, Buffalo Theory, resulting in Mayor Weinberger joining Mayor Calnon to participate in the 5th Annual Plattsburgh Polar Plunge together. The Mayors invite you to continue their friendly competition by making pledges for your favorite Mayor!

On Tuesday, October 14, 2014, Cheryl Lesser and Jake DeSnyder presented Ashley Cousens with a check for $12, 160.00. The funds will help to build the Max Moore Memorial Tree House - a universally accessible structure that will be located on the Pine Street trail head of the Saranac River Trail in Plattsburgh. During the presentation ceremony Ashley confirmed that construction of the project will begin in the spring of 2015. The Sunrise Rotary Club of Plattsburgh sold Mayor's Cup t-shirts earlier this year to support the building of the tree house.

Rotary International leaders from across Canada gathered recently in Toronto to present Prime Minister Stephen Harper with the Rotary Foundation Polio Eradication Champion Award, recognizing Canada's efforts to eliminate polio globally. Rotary District Governor Ariane Carriere of Cornwall, Ontario was among those attending the ceremony.

Carriere is a strong supporter of eradicating polio and recently headed up an event in Ottawa that brought together Rotarians from throughout the district she governs to raise funds for polio eradication. “Rotary International and its partners are very close.” Carriere said. “With a commitment of more than $580 million since 1988, Canada has been a major partner with Rotary International in the effort to eradicate polio. It was an honour to be part of the ceremony hosted by The Rotary Foundation.”